Moana Saves: going green guide

Showing posts with label going green guide. Show all posts

Monday, April 4, 2011

Enter to Win ecomom's $75,000 Healthy Home Makeover

ecomom is asking moms this question: Does your home need a Healthy Home makeover? Head over to ecomom on Facebook where you can enter the contest, invite friends to do so, check out the contest prizes ($75,000 GREEN home makeover, ya'll!), and upload pics of your living space in need of a makeover. Also, if you enter the contest, in the referral field, mention Moana Saves which will qualify us to win $1000 in a referrer's contest.

We have featured ecomom products on Moana Saves here and here. We love ecomom! It's the go-to website for consumers (not just moms, peeps!) who shop eco-responsibly and love value!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Going Green with the SilverMat from SilverSport

This mat from SilverSport is a great way to Go Green and get a great workout.

The SilverMat has a natural defense system to fight the odor and bacteria with silver ions. This doesn't use harsh chemicals and is activated by moisture- so when you're working hard, it does too. To clean, just wipe down with a damp cloth.

It's also extra thick because of that extra silver layer, so even better for you while working out. SilverSport lists the specific features of the mat:

Textured, slip-resistant surface
Features TerraSilver™, a cutting-edge, antimicrobial nanotechnology using natural silver particles that delivers anti-odor and antimicrobial performance
Lightweight for easy transportation
Durable and firm
Used for hot yoga, yoga, Pilates and general fitness
Latex-free
Wipes clean with a damp cloth
1/4" thick foam
Dimensions: 68" Length x 24" Width
Weight: 2 lbs

My husband tried it, since he is doing P90X and there are lots of sit-ups and push ups and other floor exercises. But with such trends at "Hot Yoga" and other workouts taking advantage of a good sweat- this will be the mat you want to have!

The Dick's Sporting Goods website sells all SilverSport items including the SilverMat, but they're also available in select stores.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a free product sample to facilitate my review. Any and all opinions here are my own.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Review of Wake Up on Time, a natural energy supplement

WHAT IF YOU COULD LOOK AND FEEL NOTICEABLY BETTER, WITHOUT SUBJECTING
YOUR BODY TO HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND PAINFUL TREATMENTS?

The question above is what drives product development at Rise-n-Shine and so with the potential of that premise, we tried Wake Up on Time, a natural time-release energy supplement. You can take it just before bed and the special time-release formula gives its user energy in the morning and throughout the day. I say “we” tried it but I actually didn’t get a chance. This was yet another product that 14 yr old First Born claimed as her own when I opened the package.

Some info from the website:
Wake UP On Time consists of a select group of 100% natural ingredients proven to be

safe in the food supply.Top research and over 50 years of manufacturing experience have combined for the first time to create the most effective and science-driven time released morning energy product in existence. Our patent-pending formula includes specialized and tested ingredients such as: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12,and our Synergistic and Proprietary blend (Guarana seed extract, L-Tyrosine, Eleuthero Root Extract, also known to some as Siberian Ginseng).

Wake Up On Time is absolutely 100% guaranteed. Numerous of the active, 100% natural ingredients, are proven to significantly increase energy and alertness levels and have been cited in thousands of scientific studies. Taken before going to bed, the release of the ingredients are delayed to disperse throughout the body only at the end of the average sleep cycle so you wake up feeling great, refreshed and full of energy. Wake Up On Time is the only time released product of its kind with a 100% money-back guarantee. Wake Up On Time is the product of major research and testing, and is considered the one and only effective, time released energy supplement available today!

So let me just contextualize how “we” tried it. First off, my First Born daughter is attending an extracurricular class *before* school starts every morning. A 9th grader, she wakes up most days at 5:45 am, goes to her before-school class that starts at 6:15, and then gets on the bus for school. She has committed to this for the whole of her high school years. I’m proud of her because getting up so early is HARD. Most days I don’t even do it to make sure she gets up. So her ultra-full schedule and her early morning class is the reason why she snatched Wake up on Time away from me. And it works! She takes two pills (we checked the label to make sure these weren’t off limits to her because of her age) before bed and wakes up before her alarm goes off. She is bright-eyed and bushy tailed for her before-school class and this feeling of alertness and well-being lasts for her through out the day. The only drawback is that after using Wake up in the Morning for 6 or 7 days straight and then stopping, she had a headache (we’re guessing that this is because of the natural caffeine content--22%--in the guarana). We have dealt with this by making sure she skips taking this supplement every third or fourth day. Pretty soon she’ll finish the bottle—and probably will want to order more.

Mahalo nui, Rise-n-Shine, for keeping my teenager alert and on top of her schedule!

SHOP: To purchase Wake up in the Morning or to browse through the selection of Rise-N-Shine’s selection of natural supplements, go HERE.

WIN: The folks at Rise-n-Shine are offering one lucky Moana Saves Winner a bottle of Wake Up On Time to try! For your mandatory entry in this giveaway, go to the Rise-n-Shine website and leave a comment telling us one other Rise-n-Shine natural supplement you'd like to try.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Like Moana Saves on Facebook.
4. Friend the President of Rise-n-Shine, Cathy Beggan.
5. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
6. Follow Rise-n-Shine on Twitter.
7. Tweet about this giveaway with the following (once a day max): #Win 100% natural time-released supplement Wake UP in the Morning from @moanasaves ends 4/12 http://bit.ly/ebE0RS

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends Tuesday, 4/12/11 HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winners via email and they must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive free product samples to facilitate this review. Any and all opinions are my own.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sckoon 100% Organic Cotton Pads: A Review and Giveaway

Between disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products going into landfills, if we replaced them with cloth, non-disposable, earth-friendly substitutes, we’d be way ahead of the game. So I was excited to try Sckoon’s 100% organic cotton menstrual pads. These isn’t your grandma’s feminine hygiene. Sckoon organic cotton menstrual pads are cute! But best of all they’re functional!

Sckoon pads come individually wrapped with the actual holder and liner packaged together. All Sckoon Organic Cotton Pads have all of the following benefits:

100% certified organic cotton down to the threads

Nickel free snaps to prevent allergic reactions

Dyed with metal-free, low impact dyes

Each holder comes with one liner

Size 10"(25.5cm) long, 7.5"(19cm) wing-to-wing

Liner size 9.5" x 8.3" (23.5 cm x 20.5 cm)

100% Egyptian organic cotton made in Egypt

How do they feel? The 100% organic Egyptian cotton is very soft and I love how long the holder/liner is. As the Sckoon site promises, these pads are easy to use and really I found you don’t really have to change out the holder,

just the liner to stay clean and fresh. Sckoon offers a tutorial, buying guide and FAQ for using cloth pads here.

Initially the cost of cloth pads may seem a bit high but Sckoon shows you how you can actually save money by using cloth menstrual pads: “On average, a woman spends $7.50 per month on disposable pads, which can quickly add up. That's around $90 dollars per year. Multiply that by the six years that Sckoon Organic Cotton Pads can last and you're out $540. Most women who make the switch to Sckoon spend around $119 in a start-up package**, leaving you with a whole lot of cash in your pocket for something more fun.” Sounds good to me!

Another seeming obstacle to using non-disposable pads is that there are extra steps

involved in caring for them. But really they’re quite easy to take care of. I designated a lidded bucket for my pads and then during my time the bucket had water with some detergent in it. I would throw the pads in there as I used them and changed out the water once a day. When I no longer needed them, I tossed it all in the washing machine and then into the dryer. I imagine if you want your pads to last longer it would be better to air dry them. But it was easy-peasy to care for them and I love how Sckoon’s website offers a LOT of information about their products, how to use them and how to care for them. And while the non-disposables may seem to take more time and money, after the first time you use them, they actually save time and money.

SHOP: You can purchase Sckoon 100% organic cotton pads HERE as well as 100% organic cotton baby clothes and diapers.

WIN: Sckoon is offering one lucky Moana Saves reader one value day set of 100% organic cotton menstrual pads to try for herself! For your mandatory entry in this giveaway, tell us one thing you'd like to work on to make your life more green and sustainable.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Like Moana Saves on Facebook.
4. Like Sckoon on Facebook.
5. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
6. Follow Sckoon on Twitter.
7. Tweet about this giveaway with the following (once a day max): #Win Sckoon 100%organic cotton menstrual pads from @Sckoon and @moanasaves ends 4/11 http://bit.ly/h3aJAL

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends Monday, 4/11/11 HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winners via email and they must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive free product samples to facilitate this review. Any and all opinions are my own.

Friday, March 25, 2011

T-Wave Cleaning Capsules Laundry Kit and Booster from EcoMom.com: A Review and Giveaway

Living on an island can shape our perspective about how our lives impact the planet and either positively or negatively affect sustainability. We're not suggesting that we are green experts. Rather, we are interested in highlighting how we think, shop and spend can evolve so that can sustain the earth's future for our kids. Plus we're looking at some really cool stuff! Stay tuned!
Let me just say how excited I was to try the T-Wave Cleaning Capsules Laundry Kit and Booster from EcoMom.com. When the kit came, I opened it to find 3 UFO-shaped capsules filled with what sounded like rocks. In the kit was also a 32 oz laundry booster which looked normal enough. I remained cynical about this kit up until I washed the first load of laundry with the kit. Even then I had this kind of conversation with myself:

Me: How can this work? It’s not logical. It’s hoodoo.
Me, too: Have faith! You just can’t keep up with advancements in technology.
Me: But they’re rocks in these capsules. And you just put them on top of the dirty clothes and run the cycle?
Me, too: Yep. And your clothes smell clean and fresh (although not perfumed) when the cycle is done.
Me: It must be the laundry booster that’s working. Although I don’t know how it can work. A capful is barely two teaspoons’ worth. And I know how to pack a washing machine full of dirty clothes.
Me, too: Um, don’t forget that just the capsules alone worked when you didn’t use the booster.
Me: I know . . . weird.

Ok, as you can see, the conversations I have with myself are boring. It was a way for me to say that these capsules work and I can’t quite explain why but I can testify that I stopped using laundry detergent two weeks ago and the clothes are just as clean as before using this system.

With the T-Wave Cleaning Capsules Laundry Kit and Booster there is no need to add

harsh detergents or chlorine bleach, just add a cap-ful or two of the natural cleaning Booster Liquid. A powerful vegetable base formula with assorted natural enzymes, which can also be used to pre-spot stains, is all you need.

Here are some unique features of the kit. It is:

Hypo-allergenic
Gentle on fabrics Environmentally friendly
Saves money -- lasts up to 700 washes (that means with 700 loads, you pay .08 per load!)
32 oz. Cleaning Booster included
Made in USA

Things for you to know about the kit: This is not a stain remover. This will clean your clothes, remove odors and grime. You don't need to add the booster to the wash, the capsules will work on their own. You may use a stain remover with these.

One thing I love about EcoMom is that they thoroughly research the companies they buy from and the products they sell. As a shopper on their site, that means that my purchase supports ethical and green companies as well as helps me to be an ethical and green consumer. So I love the EcoMom approval stamps at the bottom of the product description because, in the case of the T-Wave Cleaning Capsules Laundry Kit and Booster, the stamps indicate the following about the company producing the kit and the kit itself:

Fair Trade
Recycleable
Smart Packaging
Good Value
Innovation Superstar
Cruelty Free
Sustainable Production

So, in summary, this kit works and is a product I highly recommend. I don’t know why (although I think it has something to do with the ceramic pellets inside the capsules ionizing the water in the wash to effectively clean clothes) but I know it works.

SHOP: You can purchase the T-Wave Cleaning Capsules Laundry Kit and Booster from EcoMom HERE.

WIN: Thanks to the great folks at EcoMom, one lucky Moana Saves reader will win a $50 Gift Certificate to EcoMom.com! To win, follow the mandatory entry requirement below and any optional ones you'd like with a separate comment for each:

To earn a mandatory entry, go check out the EcoMom site and tell us what you would spend your $50 GC on. Mandatory means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.
To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
4. Follow EcoMom on Twitter.
5. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win an EcoMom $50 GC from @EcoMom and @moanasaves #giveaway ends 4/8 http://bit.ly/ieVCjd
6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
8. Like the EcoMom Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Friday 4/8/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive product samples to facilitate this review. Any and all opinions here are mine.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Lenox Re-new Glassware, A Review

You’ve seen them.

Tags attached to various consumer items stating “made of 25% recycled materials."

Or “made of 35% post consumer content." I even ran into a shirt once that had a tag saying “made of 34% post consumer content." Really? The shirt? No, after doing a little more skeptical looking, I realized the tag was referring to the 3” tag itself. Wow.

We all want to leave our mark on the world by being green.
Being green feels productive, happy and … clean.

So I was super excited to receive a Re-new All Purpose Glass from Lenox made of 100% recycled glass!

One.hundred.percent.

The main purpose of the glass line is to protect the environment, and then to serve your favorite beverages. (Personally, I would serve dessert in them too!)

The pieces in Lenox’s Re-new Set include the Re-new All Purpose Glass, the Re-new Goblet, and the Re-new Pitcher. Perfect for hosting guests, and quite a conversation starter if I do say so myself.

Introduced in 2008, all Re-new pieces are imported, crafted of 100% recycled glass, dishwasher safe, attractive, and affordable!

I really like the shape of the glass and the hint of light teal color.

It came very well packed, and is a sturdy glass.

It’s an easy way to be green and enjoy it!

To purchase Lenox Re-new products, go HERE.

To see other Lenox products go HERE.

I’m taking my Re-new glass, raising it, and toasting to being green!

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a free product sample to facilitate my review. Any and all opinions here are my own.

Amy Adele Stationery: A Review

I know email and texting is beyond convenient, but there's nothing like a good old fashioned letter or card. You just feel MORE... special. Someone took the time to sit down and actually write you something. Warm fuzzies all over.

Well, you'll feel even warm-fuzzier when you check out the stationery from Amy Adele, where you can create adorable, personalized stationery, invitations, announcements, etc. Not only do the designs, fonts, and overall products give you a sense of real home goodness, but items from Amy Adele are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper -- even the envelopes and address labels!!! You can feel good about saving trees while making that special someone feel good with your card or stationery from Amy Adele.

The large selection of oh-so-cute designs range from animals to simple borders to flowers and more. There is also a nice variety of fonts suitable for boys, girls, and adults! Creating and personalizing is so easy on the website. When you click on a specific item, other products that match that particular theme also show up at the bottom of the page, which makes coordinating all your items that much easier and faster!! It took my son and I way too

long to even choose his stationery because there were so many cool options. Eventually, we opted for the shark-themed cards (pictured) with his name across the top. He liked being able to choose what color his font would be - we tried a number of different fonts before settling. We also had his name and address printed on the backs of the envelopes, which makes him feel like quite the important fella (he's 5). He is excited to send off his kindergarten pictures to faraway family and I'm excited we'll have thank you cards ready when his birthday comes around in a few weeks.

I kind of want to send out-of-touch friends and family one of these cards just because they're so doggone cute. And I absolutely LOVE that they are made from recycled paper! Bonus points for Amy Adele for cuteness and being green!

Check out Amy Adele for your totally cute, totally GREEN stationery needs!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

All Terrain Kids Lip Armor w/SPF 25: A Review and Giveaway

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Review of the Saky Sack: Green Style on the Go

It’s one thing to use environmentally friendly bags as a way to show your commitment to preserving the Earth’s resources. It’s quite another to take one on the go because it’s so.dang.cute. I received a Zig Zag City Saky and the matching Sakcessories pouches for our Going Green Guide.

After I opened the package, I unfolded the City Saky and hung it over a chair to let some of the wrinkles out. (That’s right, it’s THAT humid in Hawai’i) The next day when I went to look for it, it was gone. Poof! In my house, that usually means that First Born

has snaked it out from under me. Which is what she did. She was showing off the Zig Zag City Saky in the halls of the local high school. And that means that the Saky wins the “I live to be cool” teenage award. Not only are the Saky Sacks adorable, they are Squishable, Scrunchable Squashable, Ultra-Compact and Portable with a patent pending design made from DuPont™ Tyvek ® . The City Saky and the larger Saky Weekend are

Machine washable
Tear, stain and water resistant
Interior clasp or pockets
Can carry up to 25 lbs

I love the matching Sakcessories, two pouches that clip on to the bag so that your bag is both a purse (with the Sakcessories) and a carry-all bag. In fact, I’ve been using the Sakcessories as my “purse central” with my wallet, keys, etc that I can move between my Saky and my work bag. Another thing I love about the Saky bags are the prices. The City Saky retails for $20 and is a sizable bag measuring 15” x 14” x 7.5”. The larger size, the Saky Weekend, is $25 and measures 15” x 18” x 7.0”. These Saky bags will still be stylish and functional long after you purchase them (kind of the exact opposite of supermarket plastic bags). And if you have a 14 yr old daughter like I do, you can play hide and seek the Saky Sack or just give up and let her claim it so you can get a new one. (I’m leaning toward the second option myself.)

You can purchase a Saky Sack along with the Sakcessories here. And right now through 4/5/11, you can use the promo code ALOHA and get 25% off your Saky Sack order!

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a product sample to facilitate my review. Any and all opinions here are my own.

Book Review and Giveaway - 15 Minutes Outside (Moana Saves is Going Green)

"What if I got outside every single day, and what if I could get my kids to come along? It would be easier to pull this off in the middle of summer, but what if we did it all year round, no matter what the weather was like?"

These are Rebecca Cohen's words in the introduction to her book 15 Minutes Outisde, 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids. At the time when Rebecca had this outdoorsy idea she and her husband had demanding corporate jobs and it seemed the moments she was at home were spent indoors rushing from one demand to the next, leaving her at the end of the day feeling exhausted and unfulfilled in regards to time spent with her children. Well, I'm not a working mom but I can definitely relate with the life of running around without really spending time with my kids outside.

After reading this book I think I can honestly say that it's my new best friend. 365 ideas of how to spend meaningful time with my kids outside? This translates to: 1) bonding time with my children 2) cleaner house because we're outside! 3) getting the wiggles out 4) great health benefits 5) increased appreciation of nature 6) low to no cost entertainment ... and the list goes on and on. This book's worth is priceless!

Last week was spring break and I took the opportunity to try a few of the book's ideas on my kids. Our first favorite was "get to know a tree" where one person closes their eyes and another leads them to a tree where they use their sensory skills (excluding sight) to observe the tree. That person is then led to a central location where they open their eyes and try to guess what tree they touched. My kids loved trying to fool Mommy with this fun activity. Our second favorite activity, one that I'm sure we'll continue with for months to come, was creating a nature journal. My kids loved writing short stories of our adventures, journaling interesting seeds or leaves they found, describing and drawing pictures of new birds or bugs, etc.

15 Minutes Outside is filled with thought-provoking ideas on how you can spend time outdoors with your children. The book is broken into 12 chapters with month headings with an activity per day of the month. To keep things interesting the author includes random highlighted text boxes that help you reevaluate your time spent outdoors and make it better than it already is. There are ideas for all seasons, genders, ages, locations, etc. I highly recommend the purchase of this book to any mother, grandmother, aunt or even babysitter who is looking for new and innovative ways to enjoy time outdoors with children.

SHOP:You can purchase 15 Minutes Outside at Amazon or any other bookseller, online or otherwise.

WIN: One lucky Moana Saves reader will win his/her own copy of 15 Minutes Outside. For your mandatory entry, leave a comment telling what your favorite outdoor activity is.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
3. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win 15 Minutes Outside by Rebecca Cohen from @moanasaves #giveaway ends 4/5 http://bit.ly/h61PRU
4. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
5. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
6. Become a Google Friend Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Monday, 4/4/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this blog post although I did receive a free copy of the book. Any and all opinions here are my own.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Going Green with Ma Mi Skin Care: A Review and Giveaway

I love being a mom. I wouldn’t trade it for the world and neither would any of the other moms I know. It’s a special role that fills everyday with the best kind of joy. But it definitely comes with wear and tear. Little ones running rampant, endless diapers, no sleep, and did I shower today?

Ring a bell?

Just examples of some impending battle scenarios of any mom. And it shows, at least for me. Not only in the “my house will never be clean again” department, but on my face as well. Tired skin, puffy sleep-deprived eyes, and splotchy skin color from adjusting hormones.

I just had baby number five, and my oldest is six years old. I feel tired, and ready to be rejuvenated. I was super excited to give birth, start my road to recovery, replenish my energy and especially regain my health.

I was really grateful to receive a package from Ma Mi Skin, whose sole purpose is to provide a skin care line specifically for new moms who are looking for a natural, healthy way to take care of their skin. Ma Mi Skin Care was developed by a mom of two, who was looking for safe way to take care of all of the problems new moms face, and she couldn’t find a skin care line that matched what she was looking for. One without all of the added fillers and chemicals that really are harmful.

So she and her family developed Ma Mi Skin.

I received a gift pack with the Reawaken Cleanser, Radiant Exfoliator, Satiated Moisturizer, and the Nightshift Eye Serum.

The cleanser is made with rose hip seed, seaweed and essential oils. It smells lovely, is very refreshing, and rinses off easily.
The exfoliator is made with Glycolic (a natural fruit acid) and is light with no granules. It feels more like an astringent you apply with a cotton ball, and rinse off after a couple of minutes.
The moisturizer is a combo of Hyakyronic, Jojoba Oil, Squalane, and Aprilcot Kernel Oil. It is light, not greasy, and left my skin soft to the touch. It smells wonderful!
The nightshift serum (my favorite) is composed of an active complex of soy and rice paptides, yeast protien, and hyaluronic acid and seaweed extract. It worked miracles on my puffy eyes. It’s clear, light, and you can feel it firming up the skin in the area around your eyes.

I have noticed my skin is more even in tone and texture, and has a bit more of a glow.

All of Ma Mi Skin products are made with all natural ingredients that I can pronounce when I read the label (very important!). They also have a stretch mark serum and a serum for C-section scars.

All products are said to have natural anti-aging properties, high quality ingredients with no fillers, are safe, toxin and paraben-free, and are clinically formulated by doctors. The products appear to be pricey, but I will tell you- you are definitely getting what you pay for. And it is more affordable when it is compared with anti-aging skin care lines or other pricey dermatologic treatments. When you take into account that it is safe, again, you are getting what you pay for.

SHOP: With Mother’s Day approaching, a gift pack from Ma Mi Skin would be an awesome way to let your mom know you appreciate her. You can purchase Ma Mi Skin Care products HERE. Shipping is a flat $3 and they offer a money back guarantee. As an added bonus Ma Mi Skin Care will donate 20% of all your purchases to the Harbor House of Central Florida, who help victims of domestic violence. From March 8^th – May 8^th, use the coupon code SafeHarbor at their website and 20% of all revenues will be donated!

WIN: The folks at Ma Mi Skin are offering the readers of Moana Saves the chance to win one sample pack of products which includes Reawaken Cleanser, Radiant Exfoliator, Satiated Moisturizer, and the Nightshift Eye Serum. For your mandatory entry, become a Google Friend Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar) and leave a comment saying you've done so.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
3. Follow MA MI Skin care (@gogreenmoms) on Twitter.
4. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a MA MI skin products sampler from @gogreenmoms and @moanasaves #giveaway ends 4/4 http://bit.ly/fNgmYL
5. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
6. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
7. Like the Ma Mi Skin Care Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Monday, 4/4/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

*I was not paid for this post but I did receive a gift pack from Ma Mi Skin Care to write this review. Any and all opinions are my own.

Bravery in a Bottle: A Review

Are your kids afraid of monsters in the dark? What about thunder and lightning? How about dentist visits? I know many of you could probably answer yes to that last one not just for your kids but for yourself! Let me introduce you to Bravery in a Bottle. Nancy, the founder of Bravery in a Bottle, has created a line of 4 aroma-therapeutic sprays to self-empower kids as they fight their childhood fears. Her aroma-therapy products include the following:

Monster Vapor
Courage Concoction
Storm Squasher
Feeling Campy

These sprays look great with their catchy names but what is in them? First let me tell you that the ingredients are 100% natural essential oils meaning no alcohol or chemicals. Bravery in a Bottle has a link on their site listing the aroma-therapeutic spray ingredients and the benefits each oil provides. The spray sample sent to me was Monster Vapor, a relaxing blend of lavender, lemon, mandarin, rosewood and orange. Besides smelling good these essential oils serve multiple purposes. Lavender, for example, treats migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tensions and emotional stress, induces sleep, boosts immunity, is a pain reliever and bug repellant. Can I just say that I spray this on myself as often as I spray it on the kids? This is me at night: "One spray for you, two for me, one for you, two for me..." It smells so good! Plus, living in a tropical environment like we do we're always fighting the nighttime battle with mosquitos. I'm so grateful for a lovely smelling organic spray we can use at night!

So how does a spray help your child overcome their fear of thunder or monsters? The aroma-therapy creates an actual soothing effect plus the idea of 'vaporizing' the bad monsters gives your children the feeling of power and control over what is frightening them. Each bottle also comes with a little rhyme that tells what the 'vapors' do and how they help your child conquer their fears. In addition to giving your child this great monster vapor as a defense in the dark, Bravery in a Bottle will soon be selling Monster Vapor plush and Monster Vapor Organic Cotton mascots for your child to hold as they fall asleep at night.

Our experience with Monster Vapor began with my middle child crying because I've always insisted there was no such thing as monsters and now I was spraying her with monster vapor and telling her stories of how this will help her fight the bad guys. Eventually her crying ceased and she began to love her nightly "perfume" spritz that had a calming and soothing effect. Thank you Nancy for this unique and fun solution to our nighttime woes.

SHOP: Purchase your own Bravery in a Bottle products online HERE!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Skoy Cloth: Review and Giveaway (Moana Saves is Going Green)

Have you heard of a Skoy Cloth? A SKOY cloth is a ...

100% biodegradable
Absorbent
Re-usable
European-made
Clean

and Fun… Multi-use cloth.

And there’s more exciting news about Skoy Cloth! It is:

100% biodegradable because it is made from a natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp.
A chlorine-free product using water-based colors and inks.
After an independent composting test, SKOY cloth broke down completely within 5 weeks.
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 making it the obvious choice for your wallet and the environment.
The SKOY cloth has an absorption factor of 15x its own weight.
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!

I cleaned our kitchen with a Skoy, wiping all of the counters and using my Skoy cloth with a liquid cleaner on the sink to disinfect it. The Skoy is thinner than a sponge and thicker than a paper towel. I’ve also thrown the Skoy into the dishwasher for quick cleaning. This is one product that makes switching your default option to green pretty easy. Plus they’re so cute that my 9 yr old wanted to use it—high five for cool designs!

SHOP: You can buy your own pack of Skoy cloths here or find your preferred e-tailer or retailer who sells Skoy here.

WIN: The Skoy folks have sent me a four pack of Skoy cloths for one lucky Moana Saves reader. To earn a mandatory entry, leave a comment telling us one way you’ve substituted a green product or process for something you used to use or do that was no eco-friendly.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
3. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a SKOY cloth 4-pack from @Skoycloth and @moanasaves #giveaway ends 4/3 http://bit.ly/fMfRzu
4. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
5. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
6. Like the Skoy Facebook page.
7. Become a Google Friend Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Sunday, 4/3/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Book: What's It Like, Living Green? (Moana Saves is Going Green)

~ Are you conscious of your water use?

~ Is your family using electricity wisely?

~ What kind of grocery bags do you use when you shop?

These are just a few questions my kids and I discussed while reading Jill Ammon Vanderwood's book What's It Like, Living Green? Kids Teaching Kids, By the Way They Live. This book has tips and ideas on how to live a more green life but the majority of the book is stories and testimonials of kids actually living green. What better way to teach the next generation how to care for their planet than letting kids teach kids!

My kids and I were so impressed by the stories of kids changing the way they and their families live that we decided to make a few changes in our home as well. First, my kids love to draw so we asked Dad to bring scratch paper home from work, cut it in quarters and stapled them to make our own 'like new' notepads. Second, we went on a trash scavenger hunt in our house to find things we could reuse. One piece of trash we reused especially for St. Patrick's Day was empty papertowel and toilet paper rolls which we painted green, cut, folded and glued together to make clovers. These cute little shamrocks are currently hanging from our ceiling in our front room.

We had a great time reading the stories and ideas of how to make our home and family more green. Thanks for the green inspiration!

SHOP: This book is available for purchase at Amazon in paperback or Kindle editions.

GIVEAWAY: One lucky eco-friendly Moana Saves reader will win a copy of this book. To enter tell me one way you and your family try to live green.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.

3. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
4. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
5. Become a Google Friend Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on April 1st (no foolin!) at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.
I was not compensated for this post although I did receive product samples to facilitate my review. Any and all opinions are my own.

Terro Pantry Moth Traps Review & Giveaway (Moana Saves is Going Green Guide)

Have you ever had pantry moths? If you've had these pests in your home pantry you would definitely know it. They are little brown moths that are attracted to whole grains, cereals, rice and even dry pet food. Besides being a nuisance these little pests are terribly hard to get rid of. Growing up in California I remember my mom was always trying to rid our pantry of moths and she even kept a small hand vacuum next to the pantry door so that anytime she saw a moth she could quickly vacuum it up.

Terro's pantry moth trap is a great product because it uses no harmful chemicals or insecticides but scientifically speaking it's a guaranteed success if you have a moth problem. Why? Because the trap relies on the basic "birds and bees" for moths by using a pheromone lure. Quoting my organic chemist husband: "Pheromones are chemicals that induce a response or a change in another member of the same species and is the medium in which species communicate with each other for varying purposes." Too much science talk? Basically the pheromone lures the male moth to the fly trap because he thinks he smells a female. Once the moth is in the trap it gets stuck to the fly paper and you are one step closer to being moth free! (I told my mom about these traps and she has already placed an order for her own set of traps. No more pantry vacuuming!)

We recently had an infestation of pantry moths in our brown rice so I jumped at the chance to review Terro's product. Unfortunately, my work of thoroughly cleaning and sealing grains in our pantry must have been too thorough because I haven't caught (or seen) a moth these past few days. I can say that setting up the trap is really easy. All I had to do was fold the trap on the fold lines, peel the paper back to reveal the sticky side, place the lure on the trap and form it into a triangle.

Terro has a great video detailing the moth trapping process shown below:

SHOP: Order your own Terro Pantry Moth Trap online HERE

GIVEAWAY: 2 Moana Saves Readers will receive a Terro Pantry Moth Trap package which includes two glue traps and two individually wrapped pheromone lures. To enter become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
2. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
3. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
4. Become a Google Friend Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on April 1st (no foolin!) at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive product samples from Terro via the Family Review Network to facilitate my review. Any and all opinions are my own.