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Have you visited the Green and Clean Mom Community? It’s full of amazing community members, regular posts with amazing content and some lively discussions. Kirsten of Trying to be Greener has done a fabulous job at keeping thing rolling and did you see, Kirstin has been toted as a “mom detective” over at The Soft Landing blog?

Speaking of amazing content, Tabitha posted a great piece on the different shades of green and it sums up what Green and Clean Mom and the community is all about.

I love how we are all different. We have different backgrounds and are at different places in our lives yet we are able to glean from each other in one place. Although, I’m not sure what anyone is gleaning from me because I think I’m about as new to green as one can get. Basically all I do is recycle and am more aware of things than I was before. Yet that’s why I’m here. I’m here to learn and I’m here to share.

The forum has some great discussions and giveaways happening. I’d love to hear some more thoughts on being a green hypocrite or the fourth R-REFUSE! While you’re there it would be worth entering the giveaways. I know, one more community and forum to check out or be apart of. I feel your pain. Except I like to think that the G&CM community is different and maybe you will think so to. The members are loyal and dedicated and they’ve stuck around…there must be a reason?

Here’s what is being given away over at the G&CM Community…

A set of dove holiday Christmas cards with plantable seeds from Recycled Ideas. Beautiful. Just leave a comment here at the G&CM forum and one winner will randomly be drawn on November 26, 2008.

A set of DVD’s on childbirth, breastfeeding and childcare that has been endorsed by Halle Barry, Brooke Shields and Liv Tyler (to name a few). Leave a comment on why could use this set or who you might want to give it to and why at this G&CM forum link and one winner will randomly drawn on November 26, 2008.

Attention:  Giveaway at the bottom of this post!

Companies, P.R. Firms, Marketing Gurus hear this loudly “Social Media and Marketing…it can bite you in the butt if you aren’t careful.” Take a lesson from Motrin, owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare and a brand of Ibuprofen that is learning the hard way and will need plenty of their own medicine.  Two powerful lessons can really be gleamed from a distasteful “mom-aloague” ad running at the Motrin website (until they take it down). The first being that social media and marketing, it works and it’s powerful but that also it can work against you if you don’t watch what you do and say. Second, don’t mess with moms and what they are capable of. Just visit fellow blogging pal, Katja’s site for some very evident facts to prove what I am saying. It’s not good for Motrin, not good at all. If you’re a mom blogger and you want know what you can do next (besides the blogging and tweets) visit Amy over at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

Personally, I don’t believe that “baby wearing” is a fashion statement or trend. If worn incorrectly, sure you might hurt your neck or back but for the love of all things good, don’t put that in a marketing pitch to sell more over the counter drugs. Moms should carry their babies; hold their babies, use slings or carriers because they want to be close to their baby and because the baby wants to be close to their mommies and daddies.  Not to be “trendy” or fashionable. It just so happens that a mom or dad might want to be fashionable if they use a sling or carrier but they aren’t using the contraption to look cool. Come on! Backwards thinking here and I’m not sure who created this video and what team of idiots decided that this would be a good message to send. Perhaps condescending people without children or people that wore carriers and slings incorrectly? Sadly, they might not have jobs this week but in reality, they should have thought this one through a little more.

Research shows that baby wearing certainly isn’t a fashion trend but has been around for over 50,000 years and is very cultural diverse with women in other countries using the wraps, slings and carriers to hold baby while they carry food or do chores. The sling has been around longer than the brand Motrin and probably will be.  Aware Parenting writes a great article that is very resourceful and rich in resources suggesting perhaps that,

” The invention of simple baby carrying devices may have played a decisive role in the development of the human species.”

In honor of all of those that wear their babies close to their heart, hold their babies close to their heart or disagree with the ad that Motrin has decided to run, please leave a comment on your thoughts and feelings. One comment will be randomly drawn to win a Organic Moby Wrap (pictured above) complements of www.shopPapoose.com

The Organic Moby Wrap made from 100% soft, organic cotton, EKO-certified by Skal International Retails for: $69.95. One winner will be drawn on November 21, 2008.

Halloween is over and the next holiday that my son starts to talk about is Christmas. Not that Thanksgiving isn’t important but really he doesn’t like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie and he gets bored with football on the television. Are family celebrates thanksgiving with gusto but for my son, Christmas is what he cares about and it begins with thinking of the decorations, what he will ask Santa for, where we will put our Christmas tree and when we will make cookies.

While my son thinks about Christmas toys, Christmas trees lights, and holiday cookies this green eco-friendly mom is trying to figure out how to green our holiday Christmas traditions. Luckily the book, Green Christmas by, Jennifer Basye Sander and Peter Sander was sent my way and its helping me to figure out some great ways to green up my holiday without losing the joy.

The book, Green Christmas gives some great suggestions on involving my family in the green Christmas movement. Suggesting ideas on cutting energy, reducing the waste of wrapping paper, recycling gifts and reducing the number of gifts given and received. What I like about the book is how practical it is, not large and cumbersome. It also focuses on family time and involvement.

Green Christmas doesn’t just talk about holiday gift giving but Christmas entertaining, green Christmas money saving tips, ways to create a green holiday environment and best of all why to celebrate a eco-friendly holiday. We seem to forget that it’s important to cut back on Co2 emissions whether it’s a holiday or not. Christmas shopping, cards, parties and responsibilities seem more important. Except there are little things we can do that make a difference and add up to make a big difference.

Here are some tips that I will be using this holiday season to green my holiday:

1. The children will be receiving fewer gifts and ones that are either useful, can be used long term and if possible not plastic.

2. Fewer lights which means less energy wasted. We don’t need outdoor lights twinkling and it just boosts are electric bill.

3. No new holiday decorations. I have tubs upon tubs of decorations and it’s time to purge and donate some of these. No need for new ones.

4. Give back and donate gifts to families in need. Each year we pick an angel off the Christmas tree at church but this year each of us will pick an angel and the children will help to pick the gifts out for the families. I want them to learn how fortunate they are and how it feels good to help others.

5. Toys…the children have to many. To help the children make room for new toys I want them to go through and decide which ones they do not want and we will donate them to charity.

Would you like to green your holiday? Green and Clean Mom has a copy of the book, Green Christmas, to give away to one G&CM reader. Just leave a comment on how you are trying to green your Christmas this year. One winner will randomly be drawn on November 11, 2008. Winning has been notified. Congrats Mom of One!

Here are your random numbers:

16

Timestamp: 2008-11-13 15:58:41 UTC

My new position as a Great Start Parent Coalition Coordinator has already connected me with some amazing people and opportunities. From parents telling me their stories about how important early childhood education is to hearing Steve Covey speak. Friday I was able to meet Mr. McFeely, the character that delivered the mail to Mr. Roger. Speedy Delivery! He autographed a photograph for me and signed the book You are Special by Fred Rogers. It was a great experience and it made many, many children smile. The really great part, it was helping to spread the message about PBS and a Sweater Drive that is taking place. The Post Gazette wrote a great article on Mr. McFeely extending the legacy of Mr. Rogers and I’m so glad he is. I’m all about giving back to charity and helping others. I suppose that is why I’ve worked for non-profits, grants and other organizations for the past 12 years.

This experience of course involved media and technology because I had my handy dandy Flip Video (on sale right now) and asked for a autographed book and picture to give away to one of my amazing Green and Clean readers. I’m always thinking about you.

I’m also always thinking about how much blogging has changed my life and all of the different opportunities, products and people it has brought to my life. Want to win a autographed copy of the book, You are Special? Leave me a comment telling me how blogging has impacted your life and why you began blogging? Have any new doors been opened by the experience, what have you learned, do you blog for business, what do you like or dislike about blogging? I’d love to hear how you began and why. Leave me a comment and I’ll pick the best story and feature it on my blog along with you winning the book! Contest ends on November 14, 2008. See official G&CM Rules.

Giveaway has ended! Congrats to comment number 42!

The BPA and plastic issue…it’s too much. The information is right in front of our faces and we still have a ruling from the FDA backing it, despite the flawed reports. The Smart Mama just wrote a post all about the FDA and whether science and the facts are for sale. Eye brow raising and disturbing. Locally, the big-boxed stores are not doing a very good job at carrying products that are BPA free and that’s disappointing. Smaller stores are carrying the more expensive stainless steel sippy cups but really, shouldn’t it be easier to get safe products for our children?

I first began by purchasing a BPA free sampler pack from The Soft Landing. I didn’t know which sippy cup my daughter would like, which one I would like and where to buy them. Thank goodness there is a company out there that is advocating for parents, doing the research and talking to the companies and demanding safer options. That company…The Soft Landing. I’ve been a fan of Alicia Vorhiees, her blog and her company since she launched her site and started her journey (some of which I’m sure has been uphill).

The Soft Landing has just gone through a little makeover and improved, tweaked, upgraded and spiffed up (an already sweet site) their home page. To help spread the message about The Soft Landing and to let parents know where they can find the safest products on the web for their little one and for themselves, I’m going to have a huge giveaway, hosted by The Soft Landing to help them promote their cause. The winner will win:

Dr. Brown’s Glass Bottle and Siliskin Cover Prize and to sweeten the pot, Green and Clean Mom will also throw in a $35 Gift Card to The Soft Landing. That’s a $79 prize value and a whole lot of safe BPA free products! Yee-haw!

Here’s how to enter the giveaway and the more you do the more chances you have to win! For every item below that you do, you must leave a separate comment. If you do five things you leave five comments. Simple.

1. Blog about The Soft Landing linking back to this contest, I’ll give stumbles to every post out there that does this!

2. Grab a badge to help promote The Soft Landing and put it on your blog. Let me know the link of you blog so I can check it out and give your site a stumble! Click here for the badge URL or here for the badge HTML to insert into your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and @greenmom!

4. Visit The Soft Landing and tell me your favorite item.

5. Have you bought something from The Soft Landing? Tell me what you bought.

6. Stumble, Digg or link or blog about this at a NING site, social networking site, club, etc.

7. Subscribe to Green and Clean Mom via RSS, HERE or Email, HERE.

8. Subscribe to The Soft Landing by clicking right HERE.

9. Join The Soft Landings Facebook Page by clicking HERE.

10. Email 5 people about this giveaway and The Soft Landing.

Ten different ways to enter this giveaway so there’s no excuse not to enter. Do them all or just one but there are lots of ways to enter! One winner will be randomly drawn on November 1, 2008. See Green and Clean Mom official rules.

Here are your random numbers:

42	

Timestamp: 2008-11-02 15:50:04 UTC

Fierce Hugs creates “Wearable Works of Art” - remarkably soft 100% organic cotton baby t-shirts and high quality one pieces using edgy yet playful original art created by independent international artists. Plus, they’re printed on bright colors using environmentally friendly dyes and most styles are cool unisex colors and designs (not just yellow and green, either, but sangria, tan, red and grey) and are made of fair labor. Each item is packaged in an eco-friendly gift box for the perfect baby shower gift!

New to their on line shop they are offering the adorable and sturdy 100% organic cotton canvas tote bags and one lucky Green and Clean Mom Newsletter Subscriber will win one. That is “fierce” and very lovey dovey! Just launching early this year by two friends, they’ve already been spotted and have been raved about! Check out this feedback:

From Evan Handler (Sex & the City): “Thank you, thank you, thank you! What a nice surprise to get these ultra-cute and cool T-shirts! I love them, my wife loves them, Sofia loves them, and they get compliments and questions wherever we go. [...] Thanks many times, and congratulations. They’re beautiful. We wish you the best with them.”

Fierce Hugs recently sponsored the first annual Feel Good Film Festival in Hollywood with these totes and you can click here for some cool photos of Rainn Wilson from “The Office” holding up his Fierce Hugs tote. The event was a perfect fit for this company and their common pursuit to support indie artists. Fierce Hugs artists are independent. The first from Italy, the second from the Netherlands and they are working with a third from Budapest. For a special discount enter GREEN5 for $5 off at checkout.

One lucky newsletter subscriber will one a Fierce Hugs Tote, as pictured above. Just subscribe below by October 31, 2008 and you are entered to win. See official rules for details.

The Newsletter Subscriber has been drawn and notified! Congrats to: Allison Bryson of California

Your eyes, your shoes, the new roof on your house, it’s a very versatile color because of the variety of shades. Thirty-three to be exact. I’m a huge fan of the color myself. I’m also a fan of Sloan Barnett. April 2007 Sloan and her husband, Roger Barnett were on the Oprah show. I’ve told this story a million times but I’ll tell it again. I was folding laundry, watching Oprah and Sloan came on and started talking about her son being in the hospital for asthma. I was captivated. It was my light bulb moment.

“Duh, the blue cleaner is not good for me to breath and my children. Oh, yeah, that’s why I get a headache. Hello?“

I told my story to my BFF’s, Dori and Val, you can listen here or read more over at Healthy Child Healthy World. I was then introduced to the Shaklee line of cleaning products but had no earthly idea that I couldn’t buy them at a store. I went on a buying spree trying to find them or other green products. I dove in, head first trying to clean natural and green. I read Gorgeously Green, Green This, The Organic Housekeeper and several other great books. Most natural cleaners didn’t work well in my home because of granite and other surfaces. I wanted to find those Shaklee products and finally I did through Google which led me to become a Shaklee Distributor and then a few months later in August of 2008 see Roger and Sloan in Nashville. I’m sure they don’t remember me or that I was in a elevator with them. I remember them though. I remember there story and how it helped me change how I do things and this ended up leading into so many other “green” initiates. I also felt and still feel a connection, as a parent and as a parent with an asthmatic child.

First, it began with my home environment but it continues, daily to lead to other things from hybrids, baby carrots and bleach, organic food choices, BPA free products, environmental activism, meeting and interacting with other moms like myself and the list can go on and on. Hence, Green and Clean Mom, LLC. Which is not about my Shaklee business. Rather, it is about all things green and all shades. Now, Sloan Barnett has a new book out called, Green Goes With Everything (giveaway below) I only wish that I had this resource when I began on my adventure and journey back in April of 2007!

Enviroblog writes about how they have partnered with Sloan Barnett to help create a body burden analysis based on your home environment. I did this test based on how I would have answered over a year ago and today. I am so happy that I have made the choices to rid toxic chemicals from my home environment and that I advocate and help others do the same.

Everyone starts somewhere. I hope I can raise my children to not have to start anywhere because they’re already on the path of leading green, environmentally friendly lives and being conscious of sustainability and their carbon footprint. Besides, just the wonderful book by Sloan Barnett there’s some great advice you can gleam from any of these television clips. Did you know, Sloan Barnett is a ivillage green editor and ivillage just partnered with Blogher?

I’d like to help sprinkle some green into your life by giving away two copies of Green Goes With Everything! Leave me a comment telling me why you would like to win this book. For an extra entry tweet or stumble this post and comment that you have done so. Easy as going green!

Giveaway will end October 8, 2008. See the offical rules for Green and Clean Mom giveaways.

Giveaway Closed. Winners Notified.

Here are your random numbers:

9	43

Timestamp: 2008-10-24 03:23:52 UTC

Green Living Ideas (love their site) is giving away an organic/sustainable cotton t-shirt to a subscriber of Green and Clean Mom who signs up for GLI’s newsletter between September 24, 2008 and October 8, 2008. All you need to do is to register on the Green Living Ideas site as a new user and subscribe to the newsletter (option for which is found in the site user profile area) here and post a comment right here at Green and Clean Mom that includes you GLI site user name so that it can be confirmed that you registered (like anyone would lie).

It’s super easy and trust me, you’ll love GLI. I do. Did you hear my interview with Sean from Green Talk Radio? No? Listen here.  Head on over to GLI, register, come back here and leave me a comment before October 8, 2008 telling me what you think of GLI and your user name and boom you’ve been entered to win. Keepin’ green, sexy and sassy just for you! Wink. Wink.

Did you hear about BPA and the possible link to adult diabetes and heart disease? A new study was  released that once again makes me realize just why I don’t use plastics and how the FDA must still be in bed with the chemical industry. I guess this is why we have mommy bloggers who are standing up and saying no more, buy this because it is safe and here is the new report out on BPA. It is scary but were moms and just because the FDA says something is safe does not mean we should trust them. The Soft Landing and Safe Mama also report on the FDA defending BPA. Didn’t they say lead paint was safe at one time? Hmmm? How much proof do they need?  Read the ABC News piece, I’m interviewed and if you want to know more about BPA and my thoughts I suggest you click here and here.  You can also hear more about this study by visiting the medical minute on ABC.

Green Talk Radio has published my interview and it’s pretty good. I think I say “um” too much but I was trying to keep the kids hushed and was nervous. Hopefully you’ll listen and sign up for their newsletter. They have some great interviews and information available that you shouldn’t miss out on.

Healthy Child Healthy World has honored me and my blog by posting my biography and story. I’m blushing. I have such great respect for this organization. I’ve reviewed their book and the fact that they’re partnered with the Shaklee Corporation and I’m a proud distributor, I feel so blessed. If you haven’t heard of the Blue Butterfly Program and the five simple steps to creating an non-toxic environment for our children, I suggest you take some time to learn more. It’s a great teaching tool and very informational.

I’ve been featured as a Swanky Mom which is cool. Months ago they reviewed the green cleaning products I sent them and loved them. It’s neat to reconnect with the site and be featured. I feel special and very fortunate to be considered so “swanky”! What an honorable and amazing green publicity week and there is so much more on the horizon!

Looks, like I’m headed to the Washington, D.C.  one day out reach Blogher conference. I have some exciting news to share with you about why I’m going and what is happening but I’ll wait to tell you more later. Looks like @mamacta is going to try to sponsor my ticket to the event. She owns Modestod and Urban Baby Runway. I’m super excited about this and now I have to arrange flights and hotel sponsor but no big thing, right! Want to be a sponsor just contact me. Super excited and plan on using my Flip Camera to highlight the trip and bring you some live coverage.

I’m adding some video blogging to Green and Clean Mom and have graciously been sent a Flip Camera to review. I need something to add video to my site and this Flip Camera thing rocks. I’m loving it. I can’t wait to bring video to you and share some of my reviews live on camera. I love it so much after one day that I’m ordering one, unless they just want me to keep it. I’ll do that too!

Stay tuned for some video reviews and fun news and get reading about this BPA stuff because it’s important!

I love it when I come across a person that starts a company for the same reasons I did, to clean safer and more natural. To help people and the environment. To educate.  Robin Levine is a woman I can relate to. She has started a company called, Eco-Me to provide 100% natural kits for the home, body, baby and pet. A woman who made the connection between health and toxic chemicals. Who had a concern and was done with accepting conventional harmful cleaners. Robin Levine was motivated by a personal story and so many of us are. The greatest part about her company is this word “natural” is actually just that and not a marketing word used to create buzz.

How do I know this and how will you know this?  Each kit that is purchased for either the home, body, pet or baby comes with what you need to create a natural cleaner but YOU bring the natural ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, water, baking powder or olive oil. We all have these ingredients and can buy them organic if we want. The making your own cleaning products and knowing how much, what essential oil to use and how to combine them to be effective is the part that leaves most of us scratching our heads. Easier to just go and buy the premade baby wipes body scrub. Eco-Me eliminates the guess work and makes everything simple and a busy mom loves the word, simple

I have personally mixed, cleaned with and tried the Eco-Me Home Kit, Baby Kit and Dog Kit along with the body scrub. Oh, my, my have I been having fun and now my daughters bum is wiped with home made wipes and my dog Rex has a natural flea spray and shampoo powder. The body scrub is scrumptious and my skin is naturally smooth and I felt good knowing I contributed to making the safe product to use on my body. That’s a good feeling! I know now from experience that the cleaning solutions, mixtures and kits are not only natural but effective. Another word a busy mom loves, effective.

Eco-Me would like to give one Green and Clean Mom reader the opportunity to clean natural with an Eco-Me home kit. Wanna get your Eco on an win this kit?  I’ll give you a few chances but remember if you do three of the things you have to leave three different comments!  Here it goes…

1.  Leave me a comment sharing your favorite Eco-Me tip from this page, click here.

2.  Blog about this great company, their products, talk about their tips, whatever but link back to Green and Clean Mom telling the world you heard about these products here and this is where you can win a kit.

3.  Give me a stumble, thumbs up!

4. Tweet about this contest and @greenmom me to let me know you did so.

5.  Leave me a comment with your favorite natural home-made gotta have cleaner, baby product, dog remedy or body product.

Giveaway begins, September 17, 2008 and ends September 24, 2008. CLOSED! Remember to check out the official Green and Clean Mom rules.

Winner:

Here are your random numbers:

139

Timestamp: 2008-09-27 03:44:45 UTC

kathy pease Says:

*Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on your carpets, let sit for 10 minutes before vacuuming. Baking Soda will deodorize and absorb odors.