Squarespace Blog / "crunchy"
Almost forgot the biggest milestone!
I almost forgot yesterday, our most proud milestone... we have made it to our goal of 6 months breastfeeding. It hasn't always been easy... but I was NOT willing to give up. Over the last 6 months some days it was exhausting (growth spurts) and some days rewarding... Some days I was overflowing with milk (thanks MMP and lactation cookies) and other days I felt like I had nothing... I am a HORRIBLE pumper... and what most people can pump in a sitting sometimes takes me 2 or 3 sessions just to get 5 ounces worth... but through all of this we kept going... and here we are - at our goal and still going strong. I feel like it should be smooth sailing from here... *knock on wood* next goal... ONE YEAR!
Read more →
Free Giveaway: EcoStore USA $25 Gift Certificate and Free shipping!
Oh, it is love! Im always on the hunt for new and amazing ecofriendly products... and this time, they found me. Ecostore USA contacted me a couple weeks ago offering a review and giveaway. Yay! I got to choose two of their wonderful products to try out, and let me tell you, the hardest part was choosing which ones to try!
EcoStore USA has an AMAZING line up of "green" products... everything that us "crunchy" mamas need to keep our counters sparkling... our laundry fresh... and our babies clean. I love that they have a big lineup of household products at great prices... Dishwasher soap is definitely on my "to buy" list as well as their toilet cleaner and spray cleaner. These are normally such harsh & potent chemical filled toxins, but with Ecostore they contain No Nasty Chemicals. Now of course I love all of these options, but thats not all... they have a whole list of baby products!! Things like Baby Nappy Balm, which is great for all kinda of skin issues little ones can have... Cradle Cap, Diaper Rash, etc. Chamomile & Lavender baby soap... Baby massage oil for moisturizing and relaxing baby. And my two personal favorites that I got the chance to try... the Shampoo and the Body Wash.
The shampoo was wonderful... Chamomile & Lavender scented... smooth, not overbearing at all... perfect for that bed time bath... Now, when you use all natural soaps, its hard to find ones that are "tear free" but I can honestly say (girl scouts honor) that there was not one tear while washing both boys' hair. It soaped up to a nice thick later... rinsed clean... and let their hair silky smooth.
The body wash compared just as highly as the Shampoo did. We used a "loofa" with the soap and just as the Shampoo it had a really nice lather with just a little quarter size amount of soap. A soft scent and left the boys' skin even softer...
I have to say - I think the EcoStore USA company has a new regular customer. I am that satisfied with the products... and did i mention the prices? They are totally budget friendly. Always offer free shipping on $25 & up. And right now, 40% of all items for the rest of the year.
Don't worry - Im not taking all the goods for myself! The EcoStore USA has offered for one lucky reader to win a $25 gift certificate to anything in the store, as well as free shipping on your items!
How do you win? Easy... just comment!
#1: Mandatory entry: Tell us how you would spend your $25 if you win...
Extra entries?? But of course :)
EACH ENTRY MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE COMMENT TO COUNT!!!!!
#2) Follow us publicly here on (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a (old or new) follower on our blog.
#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :)
Tweet This: "Free $25 Gift Certificate for "green" momy & baby products from @ecostoreusa at the @RockeByeBaby blog!! http://bit.ly/5pF6CU"
#4) Write a blog about this giveaway and link back to this review. Leave an extra comment with the link to the blog.
#5) Fan RockerByeBaby on Facebook...
#6) Fan The Eco Store on Facebook...
#7) Follow the Eco Store USA on Twitter...
#8) TWO EXTRA ENTRIES IF YOU Sign up for the Eco Store monthly newsletter. This is a great way to stay up on their promotions and discounts!!
Read more →
EcoStore USA has an AMAZING line up of "green" products... everything that us "crunchy" mamas need to keep our counters sparkling... our laundry fresh... and our babies clean. I love that they have a big lineup of household products at great prices... Dishwasher soap is definitely on my "to buy" list as well as their toilet cleaner and spray cleaner. These are normally such harsh & potent chemical filled toxins, but with Ecostore they contain No Nasty Chemicals. Now of course I love all of these options, but thats not all... they have a whole list of baby products!! Things like Baby Nappy Balm, which is great for all kinda of skin issues little ones can have... Cradle Cap, Diaper Rash, etc. Chamomile & Lavender baby soap... Baby massage oil for moisturizing and relaxing baby. And my two personal favorites that I got the chance to try... the Shampoo and the Body Wash.
The shampoo was wonderful... Chamomile & Lavender scented... smooth, not overbearing at all... perfect for that bed time bath... Now, when you use all natural soaps, its hard to find ones that are "tear free" but I can honestly say (girl scouts honor) that there was not one tear while washing both boys' hair. It soaped up to a nice thick later... rinsed clean... and let their hair silky smooth.
The body wash compared just as highly as the Shampoo did. We used a "loofa" with the soap and just as the Shampoo it had a really nice lather with just a little quarter size amount of soap. A soft scent and left the boys' skin even softer...
I have to say - I think the EcoStore USA company has a new regular customer. I am that satisfied with the products... and did i mention the prices? They are totally budget friendly. Always offer free shipping on $25 & up. And right now, 40% of all items for the rest of the year.
Don't worry - Im not taking all the goods for myself! The EcoStore USA has offered for one lucky reader to win a $25 gift certificate to anything in the store, as well as free shipping on your items!
How do you win? Easy... just comment!
#1: Mandatory entry: Tell us how you would spend your $25 if you win...
Extra entries?? But of course :)
EACH ENTRY MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE COMMENT TO COUNT!!!!!
#2) Follow us publicly here on (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a (old or new) follower on our blog.
#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :)
Tweet This: "Free $25 Gift Certificate for "green" momy & baby products from @ecostoreusa at the @RockeByeBaby blog!! http://bit.ly/5pF6CU"
#4) Write a blog about this giveaway and link back to this review. Leave an extra comment with the link to the blog.
#5) Fan RockerByeBaby on Facebook...
#6) Fan The Eco Store on Facebook...
#7) Follow the Eco Store USA on Twitter...
#8) TWO EXTRA ENTRIES IF YOU Sign up for the Eco Store monthly newsletter. This is a great way to stay up on their promotions and discounts!!
Bonus Blog: Manic Organic
So I know its supposed to be my lazy day...
but i couldn't resist.
Yesterday Zaq & I went grocery shopping with the boys...
And i have made HUGE changes in the way that I shop...
Like I said - im trying to be more eco-friendly... and Green... and Crunchy....
and all of those kinda of things...
It started with little things I could do around the house... electricity... water...
and then diapering... Cloth @ home...
and the Green disposables diapers when were out or for nap & bedtime...
Then I started buying Organic as much as I can.
Well, for zaq its hard...
We have all been eating non-organic food forever and were still alive...
why stop now? And spend a ton of extra $ in the process?
...not really his thing, lol...
And alot of other people out there feel the same...
Im quoting an article I found here.
" Many people are aware that food grown according to organic principles is free from exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides, but that is only one small aspect of organic agriculture. A larger part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops and livestock are raised. Why should a consumer care about agricultural techniques if an organically cultivated green pepper looks identical to a conventionally grown pepper?
The answer is multi-faceted, but simply stated, an organically cultivated pepper will be healthier and more nutritious than a conventionally cultivated pepper. By growing in a living soil where microbiotic activity constantly breaks organic matter and solid minerals into nutrients a plant can use, an organically cultivated pepper plant always has exactly what it needs to grow, from germination to fruit set, and the plant will be healthier throughout its lifespan than a conventionally grown pepper plant."
Still not completely sold? Maybe some of you are... but probably not most...
The price chance in items can be pretty huge sometimes...
Conventional Grapes cost around $2 a pound... Organic grapes sometimes costing up to $5.
Bananas that usually cost .29 cents a pound... may cost .50 a pound...
Its not easy... but there are ways to make eating & shopping organic more affordable.
Here is what I have been doing so Zaq and I can meet in the middle...
We used to buy all "brand" food... supplies... etc.
The first and probably most financially changing thing we did was start shopping @ Costco.
I can buy a 3 pound container for Organic Mixed salad greens for $2.95-$3.95
One time we even got a 3 pound shell of Organic strawberries for $5!!
I once went into target to find Strawberries - my only option were non-organic...
1 lb. for $6 Thats insane!!
So yes, Costco... they also sell the Eco-diapers we like @ Costco.com 170 diapers for $40...
rather than 62 diapers for $20 @ Target...
Costco is great when you need to do the one BIG shop...
spend a couple/few/four hundred dollars and store up for the month...
the savings are HUGE.
Anyways... back to my real point... shopping organic.
In no way do I buy everything organic...
but for the kids I try pretty hard to make positive changes...
In my shopping cart:
Organic Mac & Cheese...
Organic Ravs
Organic Lettuce (Romaine Hearts)
Organic Grapes (my favorite... never want to eat regular ones again)
Organic Yogurt (YoBaby w/ DHA) Organic Waffles
Organic Oatmeal
Organic Carrots
Organic Celery
Organic Bananas
and a bunch of other random things...
I buy when things are on sale... and some things I just buy that I love...
YoBaby and Organic grapes will ALWAYS be in the cart/fridge...
Im just trying to do better things for them...
with maybe a small sacrifice of my favorite brand for myself...
while not spending any more of hubbies hard earned money than we usually do...
The reason Im posting today is I would LOVE to hear how you mommies do it...
How do you shop? Where do you shop? Do you buy organic?
Everything Organic? Some things Organic?
Where are best deals... Coupons?
and how can you help me take even bigger steps towards an organic lifestyle.
Read more →
but i couldn't resist.
Yesterday Zaq & I went grocery shopping with the boys...
And i have made HUGE changes in the way that I shop...
Like I said - im trying to be more eco-friendly... and Green... and Crunchy....
and all of those kinda of things...
It started with little things I could do around the house... electricity... water...
and then diapering... Cloth @ home...
and the Green disposables diapers when were out or for nap & bedtime...
Then I started buying Organic as much as I can.
Well, for zaq its hard...
We have all been eating non-organic food forever and were still alive...
why stop now? And spend a ton of extra $ in the process?
...not really his thing, lol...
And alot of other people out there feel the same...
Im quoting an article I found here.
" Many people are aware that food grown according to organic principles is free from exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides, but that is only one small aspect of organic agriculture. A larger part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops and livestock are raised. Why should a consumer care about agricultural techniques if an organically cultivated green pepper looks identical to a conventionally grown pepper?
The answer is multi-faceted, but simply stated, an organically cultivated pepper will be healthier and more nutritious than a conventionally cultivated pepper. By growing in a living soil where microbiotic activity constantly breaks organic matter and solid minerals into nutrients a plant can use, an organically cultivated pepper plant always has exactly what it needs to grow, from germination to fruit set, and the plant will be healthier throughout its lifespan than a conventionally grown pepper plant."
Still not completely sold? Maybe some of you are... but probably not most...
The price chance in items can be pretty huge sometimes...
Conventional Grapes cost around $2 a pound... Organic grapes sometimes costing up to $5.
Bananas that usually cost .29 cents a pound... may cost .50 a pound...
Its not easy... but there are ways to make eating & shopping organic more affordable.
Here is what I have been doing so Zaq and I can meet in the middle...
We used to buy all "brand" food... supplies... etc.
The first and probably most financially changing thing we did was start shopping @ Costco.
I can buy a 3 pound container for Organic Mixed salad greens for $2.95-$3.95
One time we even got a 3 pound shell of Organic strawberries for $5!!
I once went into target to find Strawberries - my only option were non-organic...
1 lb. for $6 Thats insane!!
So yes, Costco... they also sell the Eco-diapers we like @ Costco.com 170 diapers for $40...
rather than 62 diapers for $20 @ Target...
Costco is great when you need to do the one BIG shop...
spend a couple/few/four hundred dollars and store up for the month...
the savings are HUGE.
Anyways... back to my real point... shopping organic.
In no way do I buy everything organic...
but for the kids I try pretty hard to make positive changes...
In my shopping cart:
Organic Mac & Cheese...
Organic Ravs
Organic Lettuce (Romaine Hearts)
Organic Grapes (my favorite... never want to eat regular ones again)
Organic Yogurt (YoBaby w/ DHA) Organic Waffles
Organic Oatmeal
Organic Carrots
Organic Celery
Organic Bananas
and a bunch of other random things...
I buy when things are on sale... and some things I just buy that I love...
YoBaby and Organic grapes will ALWAYS be in the cart/fridge...
Im just trying to do better things for them...
with maybe a small sacrifice of my favorite brand for myself...
while not spending any more of hubbies hard earned money than we usually do...
The reason Im posting today is I would LOVE to hear how you mommies do it...
How do you shop? Where do you shop? Do you buy organic?
Everything Organic? Some things Organic?
Where are best deals... Coupons?
and how can you help me take even bigger steps towards an organic lifestyle.
